Grassroots organizations provide advocacy for many causes that would not get recognition without them. These organizations are pivotal in bringing about the awareness needed to promote change, and in many instances bring about change by going through the proper legal channels. However, despite their importance, many grassroots organizations can only hope to achieve minimal victories in their quest to advocate for their cause.

From the feminist perspective, it could be argued that these grassroots organizations lack the power that institutions of the state hold. These powerful institutions are founded on an andocentric ideology, and tend to find other issues more important than those fought for by grassroots movements. The state is also able to exclude institutions and favor others, which can also be detrimental to the causes of grassroots organizations that are not favored by the state.

The catch is that the grassroots organizations must be able and willing to work with the official power in place. The feminist perspective could also accuse the state of being oppressive over Grassroots organizations that must seek the support of the state. Because the state is able to pick and choose who gets what resources, grassroots organizations are at the state's mercy.

As a way of promoting awareness and gaining support for underrepresented causes, however, grassroots organizations play a vital role in bringing about change. They are able to lobby for their causes and gain support from politicians. Although these organizations don't always get accredited with changes that promote social well-being, you can be fairly sure they were behind the change in some fashion.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: Indeed it's the only thing that ever has."

-Margaret Mead